Cashew pieces or whole cashews: which goes with which dish?
Cashew pieces or whole nuts? Decide based on your dish: pieces for baked goods, whole cashews for garnishing, or both forms for a finely puréed cream.
- For pieces in a dish: Cashew pieces are practical if your recipe calls for chopped nuts anyway.
- For visible whole nuts: Choose whole cashews if you want to maintain their shape when plating.
- For a fine cream: Both forms are suitable. The deciding factors are the recipe, the ingredients, and a suitable appliance.
What is the difference between cashew pieces and whole cashews?
Cashew pieces consist of fragments of cashew kernels. In contrast, whole cashews retain their typical curved shape. The International Nut and Dried Fruit Council's product classification also distinguishes between whole kernels, pieces, and finer forms. "Pieces" therefore primarily describes the shape, not a different variety of cashew. Source: INC, Cashew Product Classification (PDF).
For cooking, a simple consideration helps: Should the nuts remain visible, be distributed in smaller pieces, or disappear completely into the blender later?
When are cashew pieces particularly suitable?
Pieces are perfect for pastries, nut mixes, and dishes where cashew pieces are required. Rapunzel, for instance, mentions cooking, baking, curry dishes, and salads as possible uses for their cashew pieces. Source: Rapunzel, use of cashew pieces.
Compare the existing pieces with what your recipe requires. "Pieces" are not automatically finely chopped: for cookie dough or a delicate topping, further chopping may be useful. If the pieces are already the right size, you can skip this step. Stick to the respective recipe for the quantity and the time of addition.
When are whole cashew kernels the right choice?
Whole kernels are an option if you want to place individual cashews precisely when plating, such as on a bowl or a vegetable dish. The BZfE explicitly lists cashew kernels as an ingredient for vegetable stir-fries. Source: BZfE, Nuts in the kitchen.
You can also chop whole kernels yourself and prepare them to the desired size. You don't need a specific retail form for a dish with smaller pieces; base your decision on what you have in your pantry and what the final result should look like.
Are both forms suitable for cashew creams?
When cashews are finely pureed, the original shape of the kernel does not need to be preserved. A concrete example is provided by Rapunzel's Raspberry Cashew Cake: whole cashew kernels or cashew pieces are intended for the pureed filling. Source: Rapunzel, recipe with both cashew forms.
This can serve as a guide for selection but does not replace a suitable recipe. Whether soaking is planned, which liquid is added, and how it is blended depends on your recipe and the instructions for your appliance. Smaller initial pieces alone do not guarantee a smooth cream. When substituting, do not change several ingredients at the same time on a hunch.
Same recipe quantity, different initial form
Rapunzel's Raspberry Cashew Cake calls for 400 g of whole cashew kernels or cashew pieces for the filling. The cashews are soaked in hot water for about two hours and drained before pureeing. Weigh the 400 g before soaking. This process is specific to this cake; it is not a general soaking requirement for every cashew cream.
Why are roasting and seasoning also important?
In addition to the shape, check the list of ingredients: natural, roasted, salted, and seasoned cashews are different product variants. A recipe for a mildly seasoned cream makes different demands than a snack bowl with cinnamon cashews.
Therefore, check which variant is required before substituting. Salted nuts already bring salt with them, and seasoned nuts bring the respective seasoning. Choose them consciously to match the dish and take them into account when seasoning to taste. Whole kernels are not a natural, unflavored alternative simply because of their shape.
For a snack bowl with several varieties, how to make your own nut mix will help you put it together. Take the seasoning of each individual package into account instead of automatically adding salt to the finished mix.
Selecting cashews and storing them after opening
At Feinwälder, you can find cashew pieces in a 1-kg pack. You can discover other varieties in the Nuts and Snacks category. Please note the respective product description and labeling.
Seal opened packages well. The BZfE recommends storing shelled and chopped nuts in an airtight container, preferably in the refrigerator. Also, observe the storage instructions on your package. Source: BZfE, Storage. You can find more practical information in our guide How to store nuts properly.